Hair topper volume piece and method of using same

ABSTRACT

A hair topper volume piece and method of using same. The hair topper has a generally semilunar (i.e., crescent-shaped) construction and can be made out of flexible and breathable material. The hair topper is clipped onto a person&#39;s natural hair, and may be used in a variety of positions; including the top of a person&#39;s head or at any desired location offset therefrom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/985,562 filed on Mar. 5, 2020 titled “HAIR TOPPER VOLUME PIECE AND METHOD OF USING SAME” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hair topper—also called a “wiglet” or a “hair enhancer”—is a hair piece that can be secured on a user's head in order to blend in with the user's natural hair.¹ For those with partial hair loss or thinning hair, hair toppers have a number of advantages over traditional wigs; including that there is no need to wear a wig cap or otherwise hide a user's natural hair. Hair Toppers can also be used as a replacement for hair extensions to provide the appearance of added hair volume. This is particularly helpful for adding volume and coverage at the top of a user's head (where traditional hair extensions cannot be used). ¹ See, e.g., “Top Hairpieces”, UniWigs Website, last accessed Mar. 3, 2021 https://www.uniwigs.com/116-top-hairpieces#topper_qu.

Hair toppers have taken many forms. As but one example, the “easiPart HD 18”|HF Synthetic Hair Topper (Mono Top)” sold by Jon Renau² discloses an oblong hair topper designed to be worn on the top of a user's head. This can cause problems, however, such as overheating and can be cumbersome to wear, style and keep flat against the natural hairline. This hair topper also has a “perimeter” which is not attached to any of the hairs. Thus, such a hair topper cannot be used in connection with many hair styles. ² A copy of this reference is being concurrently filed herewith and may be accessed directly at: https://www.wigs.com/product/easiport-bd-18-clip-in-top-piece-easihair?varaint=32332290506.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is directed to a new and improved hair topper. More specifically, this hair topper allows for: (a) hair all the way to the edge of the fabric, i.e., there is no “track” or “weft”; (b) the use of lighter weight fabric for the underlayment of the hair topper; (c) greater texturizing to more accurately replicate the user's actual hair and to achieve desired volume; (d) the use of rounded fabric ends for a better “fit”; (e) the use of narrower fabric for better concealment; (f) a more secure attachment to a user's head regardless of whether the hair topper is affixed at the top of the user's head or offset from the top of the user's head; (g) greater flexibility for use in either a “V” or a “U” shaped application; and (h) a user with a “smaller” head to achieve a “fuller” appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan view of the top side of the hair topper volume piece.

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the bottom side of the hair topper volume piece.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the hair topper volume piece.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom side of the hair topper volume piece.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom side of the hair topper volume piece.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the top side of the hair topper volume piece.

FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively, are rear and side elevation views of a mannequin head without hair showing schematically use of the hair topper volume piece, i.e., the user parts their hair along the scalp part line shown in red and the inner edge of the hair topper volume piece represented in blue is deployed along that scalp part line.

FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively, are rear and side perspective views of a user's head with her hair parted just prior to use of the hair topper volume piece.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMBER KEY

100 Hair Topper Volume Piece 100a Top Side 100b Bottom Side 101 Base 103 Hairs 105 Seam 107 Seam Stitch 109 Hair Clip 111 Inner Edge 113 Outer Edge 115 Curved Corner 117 Scalp Part Line 120 Hair 120A Clipped Portion of Hair 120B Back Side of Hair along Part 120C First Side of Hair along Part 120D Second Side of Hair along Part

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a hair topper volume piece and a method of using same.

FIG. 1A depicts a top side 100 a of the hair topper volume piece 100, and FIG. 1B depicts a bottom side 100 b of the hair topper volume piece 100.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom side 100 b of the hair topper volume piece 100. A base 101 is connected to a plurality of hairs 103. In the preferred embodiment, the base 101 has a generally crescent shaped construction. The base 101 can be made of a variety of materials but is ideally manufactured of light weight, flexible and breathable material (such as Korean lace net fabric) so that the hair topper volume piece 100 is neither too heavy nor too hot for users to wear. In an alternative embodiment, the topper volume piece 100 can be manufactured out of hemp fiber.

The hairs 103 can either be real (i.e., human hairs), natural (i.e., animal hairs) or synthetic (i.e., man-made fibers); however, real hair is preferable. The hairs 103 are attached to the base 101. Preferably, the hairs 103 are sewn into the base 101. However, the hairs 103 could also be attached to the base 101 by means of an adhesive.

To maintain the integrity of the base 101, a seam 105 is formed by folding over the edge of the base 101, then securing the seam 105 with a seam stitch 107. At least one hair clip 109 is attached to the base 101. In the preferred embodiment, five hair clips 109 are sewn into the base 101 and are distributed approximately equidistant from one another. The base 101 has an inner edge 111 and an outer edge 113. Both the inner edge 111 and the outer edge 113 are generally arcuate in shape, and the base 101 has a generally uniform width except for at its two ends. Ideally, such width is approximately one and one half (1½) inches which helps better conceal the existence of the hair topper volume piece 100 when it is in use by a user. Each hair clip 109 is placed adjacent to the inner edge 111. Each of the two ends (where the inner edge 111 and the outer edge 113 meet) form a curved corner 115. The two curved corners 115 allow for a better “fit” for most users.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom side 100 b of the hair topper volume piece 100. The hairs 103 are formed out of a single piece of hair which is folder over onto itself to create a short end having a minimum length of l1 and a long end having a maximum length of l2. Thus, the “ratio” of what appear to be “long hairs” to what appear to be “short hairs” is 1:1 inasmuch as each hair has a long end and a short end. The minimum and maximum length of the hairs 103 can be adjusted depending on the desired aesthetic characteristics of the hair topper volume piece 100. For example, in various commercial embodiments, the total length can be 22, 20, 18, 16 or 12 inches with a short end length l1 of approximately one (1) inch in length and l2 comprising the remaining length of the hairs. By having the hairs 103 be a variety of lengths, the hair topper volume piece 100 is able to be styled and create hair “volume” in a way that mimics both actual hair and various feather texturing haircutting techniques used to create “volume.”

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the bottom side 100 b of the hair topper volume piece 100. The plurality of hairs 103 are sewn into the base 101. The seam 105 formed by folding over the base 101 and securing the fold with the seam stitch 107 is also visible in FIG. 4. The inner edge 111 and the outer edge 113 come together to form the curved corner 115. A hair clip 109 is sewn into the curved corner 115—helping hold the base 101 onto a wearer's head.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper side 100 a of the hair topper volume piece 100. The plurality of hairs 103 are equally dispersed along the surface of the base 101 and are sewn up to and including the inner edge 111 and the outer edge 113 (not shown in FIG. 5). Put another way, the hair topper volume piece 100 does not have an un-haired “track” or “weft” like other hair pieces.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic representations of the operation of the hair topper volume piece 100. The hair topper volume piece 100 is affixed to a user's head by: (i) parting the user's hair along the “U” shaped part line 117 shown in red; (ii) lining up the inner edge 111 of the hair topper volume piece 100 with the part line 117; and (iii) clipping the hair topper volume piece 100 onto the user's own hair using at least one hair clip 109. The hair topper volume piece 100 affixes to the “U” shaped part line on the top of the user's head to effectuate a more secure attachment than would be possible merely by affixing the piece to the back or sides of a user's head. Because the base 101 is made out of a flexible material, the hair topper volume piece 100 may be used in either the “U” shaped configuration shown in FIG. 6A or in a “V” shaped configuration (not shown). The flexibility of the hair topper volume piece 100 also helps a user with a “smaller” head use the hair topper volume piece and achieve a “fuller” appearance.

FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively, show the back and side of a user's head with her hair 120 parted along the part line 117 and the center portion 120A pulled up so that it can be held out of the way just prior to use of the hair topper volume piece 100. The hair topper volume piece (not shown) will be clipped to the user's hair 120 in the areas along the part line 117, namely, the back area 120B and the first and second side areas 120C and 120D. After the hair topper volume piece is affixed to the portions 120B, 120C and 120D of the user's hair 120 in the manner noted, the portion 120A of the user's hair 120 which has been held out of the way is released and the hair portion 120A falls over the hair topper volume piece and “integrates” the hair topper volume piece into the user's hair so that the hair topper volume piece's presence on the user's head is imperceptible.

Unlike with prior art hair pieces, the unique design and weight of the hair topper volume piece of this invention allow it to be applied either on top of the user's head or at any desired location offset from the top of the user's head.

In summary, the beneficial objects achieved with the hair topper volume piece of this invention include the following:

-   1. Hair all the way to the edge of the fabric, i.e., there is no     “track” or “weft”; -   2. Lighter weight fabric so not as “heavy” on the user's head; -   3. Texturizing to more accurately replicate the user's actual hair     and to achieve desired volume; -   4. Rounded fabric ends for better “fit”; -   5. Narrower fabric for better concealment; -   6. More secure attachment regardless of whether affixed at the top     of the user's head or offset from the top of the user's head; -   7. Flexible to allow either a “V” or a “U” application; and -   8. Allows user with “smaller” head to achieve a “fuller” appearance. 

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1: A hair topper comprising: (i) a flexible and breathable semilunar base having two arcuate corners; (ii) a plurality of hairs attached to the base; and (iii) at least one hair clip attached to the base. 2: The hair topper of claim 1 further wherein: the base has an inner edge and an outer edge which are generally arcuate in shape and which meet to form two corners; and the base has a generally uniform width except for portions of the base near the two corners, each of which portion narrows. 3: The hair topper of claim 2 further wherein: there are five hair clips attached to the base adjacent to the inner edge. 4: The hair topper of claim 2 further wherein: the base has a generally uniform width of approximately one and one half (1½) inches except for portions of the base near the two corners, each of which portion narrows in width. 5: The hair topper of claim 2 further wherein: each of the corners is an arcuate corner. 6: The hair topper of claim 2 further wherein: the base is made out of Korean lace. 7: The hair topper of claim 2 further wherein: the plurality of hairs are sewn into the base; and one or more hairs are folded over onto themselves to create a short end and a long end. 8: The hair topper of claim 7 further wherein: the hairs are of various lengths; and the short end of the hairs is approximately one inch in length. 9: The hair topper of claim 7 further wherein: the hairs are sewn into the base up to and including the inner edge and the outer edge. 10: The hair topper of claim 1 further wherein: the base has an inner edge and an outer edge which are generally arcuate in shape and which meet to form two arcuate corners; the base has a generally uniform width of approximately one and one half (1½) inches except for portions of the base near the two corners, each of which portion narrows in width; there are five hair clips attached to the base adjacent to the inner edge; and the plurality of hairs are of various lengths and are sewn into the base up to and including the inner edge and the outer edge and one or more hairs are folded over onto themselves to create a short end approximately one inch in length and a long end. 11: The hair topper of claim 1 further wherein: the base is made out of Korean lace and has an inner edge and an outer edge which are generally arcuate in shape and which meet to form two arcuate corners; the base has a generally uniform width of approximately one and one half (1½) inches except for portions of the base near the two corners, each of which portion narrows in width; there are five hair clips attached to the base adjacent to the inner edge; and the plurality of hairs are of various lengths and are sewn into the base up to and including the inner edge and the outer edge and one or more hairs are folded over onto themselves to create a short end approximately one inch in length and a long end. 12: A method of using a hair topper comprising (i) step one: combing a user's natural hair along a part line; (ii) step two: lifting the user's natural hair above the part line; (iv) step three: clipping a hair topper comprising a flexible and breathable semilunar base having two arcuate corners, a plurality of hairs attached to the base and at least one hair clip attached to the base onto a user's natural hair along the part line; and (v) step four: releasing the user's hair above the part line and styling the user's natural hair to blend together the natural hair and the hair topper hair. 13: A method of claim 11 further wherein: the part line is generally “U” shaped. 14: A method of claim 11 further wherein: the part line is generally “V” shaped. 15: A method of manufacturing a hair topper comprising: cutting a flexible and breathable semilunar base having an inner edge and an outer edge which are generally arcuate in shape and which meet to form two arcuate corners; folding over the edges of the base to form a seam then securing the seam with a seam stitch; sewing a plurality of hairs into the base up to and including the inner edge and the outer edge; and sewing at least one hair clip to the base. 